2G Strange Water-pump or water pipe leak ideas

1greyawdtsi · Jun 9, 2020

Hi Gentlemen & ladies. My 2GA Talon awd (3rd one in 16 years) had slight and intermittent coolant leak (With the car running or not) that appeared to be coming from the water-pump/lower timing cover area.
It’s strange A. b/c I did a full 120k timing service: water pump, timing belt, BBelt, tensioner, front seal, everything, etc.. about 3.5 years ago and I only put about 16,000 miles on the car in that time. Seems odd the water pump should fail already. It’s Also strange B. because once I discovered the slight leak I filled up the coolant system with about a gallon of 50/50 coolant and now i can’t get it to leak At all. The only thing I’ve done recently is a VRSF FMIC & egr block off plate like a month ago.
Searched this topic plenty - to no avail. I’m all fingers crossed b/c my next thought to be safe is to just replace the h2o pump and T-belt again.
Anyone have any thoughts on the source/cause of this leak beside a bad h20 pump or water pipe gasket? TIA

spyderdrifter · Jun 10, 2020

I would guess either the O-ring from the main water pipe going into the pump got rolled or otherwise misaligned during install, or the weep hole on the pump is leaking. What brand pump did you install? Every time I buy an auto parts store brand pump, I have to replace it again a year later, and for me at least, they always seem to be leaking from that damn weep hole.

1greyawdtsi · Jun 10, 2020

Appreciate the response. It was basically the Extreme PSI Economy (Gates) timing kit. I guess I shouldn’t be that surprised - if it turns out the h20 pump failed.
I guess or the short term. I’m going to keep and eye on the coolant level and see if I can catch it leaking again. Regardless at some point I guess I’ll dig in and see if I can pinpoint the leak. If nothing else I’m def going to be a champ DSM at timing belt maintenance that’s for sure!

luv2rallye · Jun 10, 2020

One common source of a water pump install leak to be aware of:
https://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/coolant-leak.309982/#post-151625392.

miguelmcv · Jun 10, 2020

I would use a coolant test tool to pressurize the system and look for the leak, it always have helped me when looking for any leaks.

19Eclipse90 · Jun 10, 2020

I've only done it once, but that one time I used a non-OEM water pump, it started leaking from the weep hole after 10k miles. Never again.

1greyawdtsi · Jun 11, 2020

Appreciate the responses. Yeah I’m a chiseler!
And I should be beaten around the face and neck for cheaping out and going with the non-oem stuff. Thanks again for the input.

luv2rallye · Jun 12, 2020

19Eclipse90 said:
I've only done it once, but that one time I used a non-OEM water pump, it started leaking from the weep hole after 10k miles. Never again.

I've NEVER had a non-oem water pump last more than 2 years before the bearings go out or it leaks. You can buy 1 outrageously priced oem factory one from a Mitsubishi dealer or 5 aftermarket ones over the same 10 year time period...take your pick. Even most of the non-factory ones that say OEM don't last (they are often cheap quality even though they are supposedly designed to the same specs - specs and quality are different things - when they say same specs they just mean same dimensions so it will fit correctly {although I've had cases where even then it fits but doesn't always work properly}). The real factory ones are SO much better (also true for the power transistor and timing pulleys). You can get Beck Arnley parts at auto stores if you can find them - they buy up the real factory dealer ones and sell them in their own re-packaged boxes.

pauleyman · Jun 12, 2020

If i buy aftermarket i buy Aisin or gates.

luv2rallye · Jun 12, 2020

Does Aisin make the factory Mitsubishi water pumps? I've heard different stories on that.

miguelmcv · Jun 12, 2020

I have never, ever gone into a leaking/damaged water pump, they all have hold till I get the timing belt replacement.
But, I have always bought OEM water pumps, the only one I have bought that’s not OEM is a gate water pump and didn’t have work let ether.

1greyawdtsi · Jun 22, 2020

Update. Since my OP in early June. I have confirmed visually the coolant leak is at water pipe & water pump joint. Which seems better than a weeping water pump on face-value. And a lot less costly. If your leaking coolant in this area - make sure you confirm the source of the leak as I almost ordered $400 of timing belt, water pump & associated parts.
My curiosity is regarding the leak. After 6 - fill and leak or drain cycles (3 times with just distilled water & 3 times with just 50/50 h2o/coolant). I can also confirm that refilling with just distilled water that, the pipe/joint doesn’t leak or doesn’t noticeably leak when mostly full of just distilled water.
Question is, could it be the lubricant in the coolant that is letting the 50/50 coolant slip by the rubber o-ring and leak? This is a new one for me. TIA for any input...

luv2rallye · Jun 22, 2020

Did you read my post #4 (which is this: https://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/coolant-leak.309982/#post-151625392).

1greyawdtsi · Jun 22, 2020

luv2rallye said:
Did you read my post #4 (which is this: https://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/coolant-leak.309982/#post-151625392).

Thanks yes, I read it a couple times.

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2G Strange Water-pump or water pipe leak ideas

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